Japan bank lending drops 2.1% in Dec., money stock rises

（单词翻译）

    TOKYO, Jan. 12 (Xinhua) -- The overall level of bank lending(银行贷款) in Japan fell 2.1 percent from a year earlier in December, marking the 13th straight month of decline, the Bank of Japan (BOJ) said Wednesday.
    According to the central bank, the level of outstanding loans stood at 393.86 trillion yen² (4.73 trillion U.S. dollars) in the recording³ month, this follows a 2.1 percent decline in November.
    Bank lending, including trusts, also declined 1.9 percent on year, standing¹ at 456.5 trillion yen (5.57 trillion U.S. dollars) following the 2.0 percent decline in the previous month, the BOJ said.
    According to the BOJ（日本央行）, adjusted bank lending fell 1.8 percent on year after falling an annualized 1.9 percent drop a month earlier.
    Separately the BOJ said Wednesday that M2 money stock rose 2.3 percent on year in December to 782.3 trillion yen (9.39 trillion U. S. dollars), below the median expectations for a 2.6 percent annual rise.
    The balance of M2 includes currency in circulation and deposits, but excludes those held at Japan Post Bank.
    M3 money stock was up 1.8 percent on year to 1,082.9 trillion yen (13 trillion U.S. dollars) after rising by 2.0 percent on year in the previous month, the central bank said.    The balance of M3 includes currency in circulation, deposit money and so-called "quasi" money and CDs.
    Japan's money supply or money stock, refers to the total amount of money available in the nation's economy at a particular point in time and is usually defined as currency in circulation and demand deposits (depositors' easily-accessed assets on the books of financial institutions).
    Leading economists⁴ are quick to note that there is a direct relation in Japan between long-term price inflation and money- supply growth, at least for rapid increases in the amount of money in the economy.（本文由在线英语听力室整理编辑）